Calendula has been used an herbal remedy and as coloring and flavoring for food in Central and Southern Europe since the 1100s. Frontier Co-opOrganic Calendula Flower Petals lend a subtly bitter and salty taste to foods. Commonly known there as marigold, calendula is an annual flower native to the northern Mediterranean countries. Well known for its skin-soothing properties, this gentle herb is used as an ingredient in all types of skin care preparations, including salves, body washes, creams, ointments and lotions. This two-foot-tall, hardy annual can grow quite bushy, and its large, two- to three-inch flowers (which range from yellow to bright orange in color) are attractive additions to borders. Calendula blooms continuously throughout the winter in warmer climates and throughout the summer in the north. Cooler temperatures and picking the flowers promote more flowering, while high heat in summer will stress the plant and inhibit flowering. Only the petals are edible and are often used in tea, salads, to color cheese and as a substitute for saffron.